New Show, owned by Victorious, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by David Egan, clinched the cup of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in a photo finish.
One of the most important races in the Bahrain Racing Calendar, the event was held under the patronage of the Crown Prince Prime Minister at Al Raffa racecourse, Sakhir.
The seventh race of the day, for imported horses of class 1 grade 1, three years old and upwards, over a distance of 2,000 metres, carried a prize money of BD15,000.
Desert Lion, owned by Isa Mahmood Al Siddiqi, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by Paddy Mathers, emerged second, followed by MKAR Racing’s Litigator and Victorious’ Simsir.
In attendance were His Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, SCYS first deputy chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club High Committee chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and REHC High Committee vice-chairman Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa.
The sixth race was held for the cup of the Crown Prince Prime Minister for local breed over a distance of 2000m and for a prize money of BD15,000. Sabrina of Victorious, trained by Fawzi Nass and ridden by Husain Makki won the race followed by Al Tariq (KHK Racing), Dance Monkey (Abdulla Fawzi Nass) and Dalil owned by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The fifth race was for the Stewards Cup for imported horses (1600m – BD5,000) and the winners were Al Adiyat Racing’s Byline, Timerlane (Al Mohamedia) and Zymyran (Al Hassanin Syndicate).
Abdulla Fawzi Nass’ Paco Man won the Bahrain Derby Cup in the fourth race for local breed (class 1/ 2,000m/ BD5,000).
Waseela of the KHK Racing lifted the Bahrain Oaks Cup in the third race for local breed (1800m/ BD3,000).
Second race was held for the REHC High Committee Cup. Teenar of Al Mohamedia Racing won the race followed by Breath of Air (Al Adiyat), London Look (Karrar Abdulhadi Ali Al Baqqali) and Dark Shadow (Al Mohamedia).
Kuheilan Afas 1695 of Al Wasmia clinched the cup of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the first race for Bahrain Arabian Breed (WAHO).
The other winners were Victorious’ Al Jellaby 1544, Al Wasmia’s Kuheilan Afas 1675 and Victorious’ Kuheilan Afas 1708.
Shaikh Isa, deputy patron of the festival, presented the two cups of the Crown Prince Prime Minister for local breed and imported horses to Shaikh Nasser.
He also presented the cup of the Crown Prince Prime Minister for Arabian breed to winning trainer Abdulla Kuwaiti; the cup of Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club High Committee to Shaikh Sultan Eddine bin Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa and Derby cup to trainer Fawzi Nass.
Shaikh Isa also received the Stewards Cup from REHC executive director Shaikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa after Al Adiyat stable horse Byline won the fifth race.
Shaikh Isa hailed the support of His Majesty, and paid tribute to the Crown Prince Prime Minister for encouraging the sport, which is part of Bahraini identity.
He also hailed the participation of owners and jockeys from Bahrain and abroad who competed in different races for the cup of the Crown Prince Prime Minister.